Powerful 6.2-Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Istanbul, No Casualties Reported

A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Istanbul on Wednesday, April 23, late in the morning, triggering panic in the Turkish metropolis of 16 million inhabitants. The tremor, felt across nearby provinces, caused no casualties or major damage, according to local authorities.

The quake’s epicenter was located approximately 24 kilometers off the coast of Silivri, in the Sea of Marmara, at a depth estimated between 7 and 10 kilometers. It lasted about 13 seconds and was recorded just before 1 p.m. local time by Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Over Fifty Aftershocks Recorded

By midday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that more than 50 aftershocks had been recorded, some reaching a magnitude of 5.9. Several were felt in western districts of Istanbul such as Büyükçekmece. Earlier in the day, two initial tremors measuring 3.9 and 4.4 had already shaken the region.

Local authorities promptly placed emergency services on alert and urged residents to stay away from potentially weakened buildings. No collapses have been reported so far.

Viral Footage and Lingering Trauma

The tremors were captured live on several TV channels, including CNN Türk, disrupting broadcasts mid-program. On social media, residents shared videos showing scenes of panic and people rushing to evacuate buildings.

Turkey, which lies along two major fault lines, remains haunted by memories of the devastating 2023 earthquake sequence that claimed nearly 60,000 lives in Turkey and neighboring Syria.